Found

by Kimberly Odum Wells

  At six forty five we left our house on the way to the park for the town hall meeting called to make the announcement and give the people of the town a choice. Were they willing to but their safety on the line by allowing me to continue to live in their village if there was a chance that a crazed angel may wage war on it in an attempt to destroy me and maybe Amara? I honestly didn’t know but I was okay with whatever answer they gave us.

  The talk I’d had with Lucius had gone better than expected. I almost felt sorry for him. I knew Mom had been counting on him talking sense into me about the big reveal. But both of them should have known better. Sacrifice should always be a choice, or at least that’s what I thought.

  Maalik smiled at me as I joined the rest of the group already congregated in the front room. He bowed at the neck before taking the lead. Sariel and Amara followed, then Lucius and me, and last but not least, Mom and Samiel.

  As we made our way down the sidewalk passing the familiar homes of our neighbors I thought of all the people we’d come to know since we’d arrived, the men, women and children that had become friends and in Sarah’s case, family. The threat of Azriel suddenly felt real. For a year he was the boogieman or any other invisible threat, but when my mind’s eye brought up the images of the smiling people I knew, the ones that I loved more than life itself as well as those that offered us food and shelter, it was enough to take my breath away but this time when I exhaled I wasn’t calmed.

  “Are you well Wila,” Lucius asked.

  I looked into the eyes of my angel. My angel who was ready to die for me, ready to swear an oath that could only be broken in death, the one I loved and wanted to bind myself to in every way. Lucius stopped and turned my body so we faced each other.

  “What is it?” he asked. He cupped my face in his hands.

  Everyone had come to a stop. Sariel, Amara and Maalik turned and came back and together with Samiel and Mom, they made a circle around the two of us.

  “I love you,” I said.

  I’d said the words a thousand times but the strength behind the three words stilled my heart. Lucius took a deep breath of his own. I turned to Amara who held out her arms and I stepped into her embrace.

  “I love you Amara.”

  “I love you too Wila.” She squeezed me extra tight before releasing me.

  My mom was right there and my body barely had a chance to register it was in a different set of arms. My mom was inches taller than me and I laid my head on her shoulder. Our hug was more of an embrace and I found comfort in her arms, just like I had countless other times.

  “Thank you.” I hugged her and snuggled into the hold. “Thank you for taking care of me, thank you for being so strong.”

  My mom wasn’t a crier. I can’t remember a time I’d ever seen her cry and she didn’t cry then. She held me in arms that felt prepared to do so for an eternity. Would my life have been the same if her mother had taken me? I didn’t think so.

  Once, at Emily’s house, I made a promise to do something for all the people who had made a sacrifice for my family. But it wasn’t about what they’d done or what I thought I owed. It was about responsibility and purpose…it was about love. If the people of this village told us to leave we’d leave but I’d protect them, not because I owed them and not only because it was part of my destiny, but because I loved them. I could do this, I had no choice, I was born to do it and I would take on the great honor wholeheartedly.

  I let go of my mom and she didn’t look concerned, she kissed me on the forehead and joined Samiel and we returned to the formation we’d been in before I had my mini-epiphany. We didn’t speak and as we turned the last corner I could see the hundreds of people that had come out. Sarah had been right, everyone had come, I knew without a head count.

  Amara, in front, looked like the queen that she was. Her posture was perfect and her dress had just the right amount of train. The band of gold around her head finally looked like the crown that it was. Emily had given Amara her birthright in the small circle of gold; she’d taught her what it would be like to be adored and the responsibility of ruling and guiding the fae. I could never pull that off. I didn’t’ have the same regal demeanor as Amara and Mom.

  I didn’t know if someone told beforehand or if the people figured it out but the second Amara approached people started to bow and curtsey. Sariel had taken Amara’s hand and put it in the crook of his arm and as he escorted her through the aisle of people she smiled at everyone and no one. Tomorrow everyone would swear she’d looked right at them.

  The truth of who I was had been kept hidden from me. There was no blame; my mother had done an extraordinary job raising me. With my sister leading the way I took my first step into the masses but instead of passing them by I stopped. I am the Celestial Queen Mother, my birth affected the world. There had been peace in places that had only known war and offerings had been left at long forgotten temples. The prophecy said I am the center of the heavens, the earth and it realms and the underworld but I would love earth above all others.

  I let go of the timeless angel at my side and reached out and touched the first of the people in the crowd. My people.

  Chapter 9: Unbreakable Vows